Circulating pump arrangements, more especially for central heating systems



FOR

E. WITTWER ING PUMP ARRANGEMENTS, MORE ING SYSTEMS CENTRAL HEAT Filed D8, 1959 3,072,069 ESPECIALLY IIA Uited States Patent Ofificc 3,d72,069Patented Jan. 8, 1963 This invention relates to circulating pumpinstallations, more especially for central heating systems.

The fact that there is always a quantity of dirt in heating sysemscontinually leads to faults in the mechanical parts of circulating pumpsof the type having no glands.

The correct installation of a circulating pump comprises a circulatingline with a pump and a slide-valve both in front of and after the pump,and a throttle valve in the main line or, instead of this, a non-returnvalve which open or can be opened immediately the pump breaks down orhas to be repaired.

This type of construction is expensive and is avoided today, especiallyin small heating systems, owing to the cost. In small heating systems,the pump is usually installed directly in the flow or return line, theprovision of shut-cit means in front of and after the pump frequentlybeing dispensed with and thus the disadvantage of having to empty andre-fill the heating system in the event of repairs has to be accepted.This procedure in the event of a repair, however, is usually much moreexpensive than the repair to the pump itself.

When the pump is installed together with shut-oil means directly in theflow or return line, there is a danger that one of these shut-oft meansmay be closed by an unqualified person, so that the steam forming in theboiler results in undesirable damage, especially when coke is used forfiring. V

The object of the present invention is to incorporate a shut-off meansdirectly in the pump itself, which shut-off means cannot be closed aslong as the pump is installed. On the other hand, the shut-off means isto close automatically if the pump is removed for repair purposes.

To this end, according to the invention, the region of the liquid ashut-oft meansis provided which is operatively connected to thecirculating pump elements in such manner that when the pump is removedthe shut-01f means automatically pass into the closing position.

One exemplified embodiment of the subject of the invention isillustrated in. section in the accompanying drawing.

On the motor shaft 1 of the circulating pump, the rotor 2 is mounted atone end and the impeller 3' at the other end. The motor furthercomprises the stator 4, the shield and shaft bearing 5, the separatingbush 6 between the rotor 2 and the stator 4, and the motor casing 7. Theshaft bearing is flanged on the casing 7, which is in turn bolted to thehousing 9 by means of the bolts 8. In the housing 9 there is acylindrical bore 10, into which lead the inlet 11 and the outlet 12 ofthe medium to be circulated. The cylinder 13'is mounted in the bore tilso as to be axially slidable and hasinlet apertures Maud outletapertures 15, which are connected to one another. The impeller 3 issituated in front of the outlet apertures. Between the wall of the boreand the cylinder are disposed the sealing rings 16, 17 and 18. Thecompression spring 19 presses the cylinder 13 toward the bearing 5.

The drawing illustrates the installed position. For the purpose ofremoving the pump, the bolts 8 are released, so that the bearing body 5together with the motor and impeller can be removed from the housing 9.In these circumstances, the cylinder 13 is pushed by the spring 19 untilit strikes against the stop 20. The sealing rings also slide with thecylinder, and the ring 16 reaches the position of the ring 17, the ring17 the position of the ring 18, and the ring 18 the position 2E. Thering 16 thus seals oif the inlet and the rings 17 and 18 seal off theoutlet or return branch. The pump can now be removed without any dangerof the circulating medium continuing to flow in. On removal, thecirculating medium situated in the cylinder 13 flows out and is lostas' 1. A circulating pump comprising a casing defining an interiorchamber, fluid-inlet channel means intersecting,

said chamber, fiuid-outlet channel means intersecting said chamber,fluid circulating means removably mounted in said chamber for forcingfluid from said fluid-inlet channel means to said fluid-outlet channelmeans, valve means located in said chamber including a valve member andbiasing means for urging said valve member into engagement with saidcirculating means, said valve member being mounted in said chamber formovement by sa1d biasing means in response to removal of said circulatng means from a first position allowing flow of fluid between saidchannel means and said chamber to a second posi-' tion obstructing fluidflow between each of said channel means and said chamber; and stop meansmounted on,

said casing and projecting into the interior thereof for stoppingmovement of said valve member in response to the urging of said biasingmeans when said circulating means has been removed from said chamber,said valve member having a pair of passages leading to said circulat Hing means, said passages each being in alignment with one ,of saidchannel means for allowing fluid flow between said inlet channel meansand said outlet channel means when said circulating means is in thefirst position, and being moved out of alignment upon said circulatingmeans being removed.

2. A circulating pump comprising a casing defining an interior chamberhaving walls, fluid-inlet channel means passing to said chamber,fluid-outlet channel means passing from said chamber, fluid circulatingmeans removably mounted in said chamber for forcing fluid from saidfluidinlet channel means to said fluid-outlet channel means, valve meanslocated in said chamber including a valve member havinga surfacecorresponding to the shape of the interior walls and biasing meansurging said member into engagement with said circulating means, saidmember being mounted for movement during removal of said circulatingmeans from a first position allowing flow of fluid between said channelmeans and said chamber to a second position obstructing fluid flowbetween each of said channel means and said chamber; and stop meansmounted on said casing and projecting into the interior thereof forstopping movement of said valve member in response to the urging of saidbiasing means when said circulating means is removed from said chamber,said valve member having a pair of passages leading to said circulatingmeans, said passages each being in alignment with one of said channelmeans for allowing fluid flow between said inlet channel means and saidoutlet channel means when said circulating means is in the firstposition and being moved out of alignment upon said circulating meansbeing removed, said valve means including packing means mounted aroundsaid valve member and in engagement with the interior walls of saidcasing.

3. A circulating pump comprising a casing defining a cylindricalinterior chamber having cylindrical interior walls, radially arrangedfluid-inlet channel means inter secting said chamber at one axialposition, radially arranged fluid-outlet channel means intersecting saidchamber at a second axial position, fluid circulating means mounted insaid chamber and adapted to be removable by axial movement with respectto said chamber for forcing fluid from said fluid-inlet channel means tosaid fluidoiitlet channel means when mounted in said chamber, and valvemeans located in said chamber including a cylindrical valve memberaxially movable within the cylindrical walls of said casing and biasingmeans for axially biasing said valve member against said circulatingmeans when said circulating means is mounted within the housing; saidvalve member being moved, upon removal of said circulating means, from afirst axial position allowing flow of fluid between said channel meansand said chamber to a second position into the path of each of saidchannel means for obstructing fluid flow between each of said channelmeans and said chamber, and stop means for stopping the movement of saidvalve member by the urging of said biasing means when said circulatingmeans is removed.

4. A circulating pump comprising a casing defining a cylindricalinterior chamber and cylindrical interior walls, radially arrangedfluid-inlet channel means intersecting said chamber, radially arrangedfluid-outlet channel means intersecting said chamber at a locationaxially offset from said fluid-inlet channel means, fluid circulatingmeans mounted in said chamber and adapted to be removable by axialmovement thereof with respect to said chamber for forcing fluid fromsaid fluid-inlet channel means to said fluid-outlet channel means whenmounted in said chamber, and valve means located in said chamberincluding a cylindrical valve member axially movable within thecylindrical wallsof said casing and biasing means for axially biasingsaid valve member against said circulating means when said circulatingmeans is mounted within the housing; said valve member being moved, uponremoval of said circulating means, from a first axial position allowingfree flow of fluid between said channel means and said chamber to asecond axial position obstructing fluid flow between each of saidchannel means and said chamber, and stop means for stopping the movementof said valve member resulting from the urging of said biasing meanswhen said circulating means is removed; said valve member having a pairof passages leading to said circulating means, said passages each beingin alignment with one of said channel means for allowing fluid flowbetween said inlet and said outlet means when said valve member is inthe first position and being moved out of alignment therewith upon saidcirculating means being removed.

5. A circulating pump comprising a casing defining a cylindricalinterior chamber having cylindrical interior walls, radially arrangedfluid-inlet channel means intersectingsaid chamber at an axial locationoffset from said fluid-inlet channel means, radially arrangedfluid-outlet "channel means intersecting said chamber, fluid circulatingmeans mounted in said chamber-and adapted'to be removable by axialmovement thereof with respect to said chamber for forcing fluid fromsaid fluid-inlet channel means to said fluid-outlet channel means whenmounted in said chamber, valve means located in said chamber, acylindrical valve member axially movable within the cylindrical walls ofsaid casing and biasing means for axially biasing said valve memberagainst said circulating means when said circulating means is mountedwithin the casing; said valve member being mounted for movement uponremoval of said circulating means from a first axial position allowingflow of fluid between said channel means and said chamber to a secondaxial position obstructing fluid flow between each of said channel meansand said chamber, and stop means for stopping the axial movement of saidvalve member by the urging of said biasing means when said circulatingmeans is removed, said valve member having a pair of passages leading tosaid circulating means, said passages each being in alignment with oneof said channel means for allowing fluid flow between said inlet andsaid outlet means when valve member is in the first position and beingmoved out of alignment therewith when said circulating means has beenremoved, said valve means including a plurality of annular packing ringsmounted about the cylindrical walls of said valve member and inengagement with the interior walls of said casing for preventing flowabout said valve member and restricting flow to the passages within saidvalve member.

6. A circulating pump comprising a casing defining an interior chamberand cylindrical interior Walls, radially arranged fluid-inlet channelmeans passing to said chamber at a first axial location, radiallyarranged fluid-outlet channel means passing from said chamber at asecond axial location, fluid circulating means mounted in said chamberand adapted to be removable by axial movement thereof with respect tosaid chamber for forcing fluid from said inlet channel means to saidoutlet channel means when mounted in said chamber, valve means locatedin said chamber including a cylindrical valve member coaxially movablewithin the cylindrical walls of said casing and biasing means foraxially urging said valve member against said circulating means whensaid circulating means is mounted within the casing; said valve memberbeing mounted for movement, upon removal of said circulating means, froma first axial position allowing flow of fluid between said channel meansand said chamber to a second position for obstructing fluid flow betweeneach of said channel means and said chamber, and stop means for stoppingthe movement of said valve member by the urging of said biasing meanswhen said circulating means is removed, said valve member having a pairof passages leading to said circulating means, said passages each be ingin alignment with one of said channel means for allowing fluid flowbetween each of said channel means when said valve member is in thefirst position and out of alignment when said circulating means isremoved, said valve means including a pair of packing rings mountedabout said valve member and in engagement with the Walls of said housingat axial positions on either side of said fluid-inlet channel means, anda third packing ring mounted about said valve member and in en gagementwith the interior walls of said casing on the side of said fluid-outletchannel means adjacent to the pair of packing rings, whereby upon saidvalve member being moved to the second position said third ring and oneof said pair of rings straddles said fluid-outlet channel means and theother of said pair of rings is moved to the other axial side of saidfluid-inlet channel means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,384,254 Meredew Sept. 4, 1945 2,420,315 Holt et al May 13, 19472,901,889 Reed Sept. 1, 1959 2,978,150 Doelcher Apr. 4, 1961

1. A CIRCULATING PUMP COMPRISING A CASING DEFINING AN INTERIOR CHAMBER,FLUID-INLET CHANNEL MEANS INTERSECTING SAID CHAMBER, FLUID-OUTLETCHANNEL MEANS INTERSECTING SAID CHAMBER, FLUID CIRCULATING MEANSREMOVABLY MOUNTED IN SAID CHAMBER FOR FORCING FLUID FROM SAIDFLUID-INLET CHANNEL MEANS TO SAID FLUID-OUTLET CHANNEL MEANS, VALVEMEANS LOCATED IN SAID CHAMBER INCLUDING A VALVE MEMBER AND BIASING MEANSFOR URGING SAID VALVE MEMBER INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CIRCULATINGMEANS, SAID VALVE MEMBER BEING MOUNTED IN SAID CHAMBER FOR MOVEMENT BYSAID BIASING MEANS IN RESPONSE TO REMOVAL OF SAID CIRCULATING MEANS FROMA FIRST POSITION ALLOWING FLOW OF FLUID BETWEEN SAID CHANNEL MEANS ANDSAID CHAMBER TO A SECOND POSITION OBSTRUCTING FLUID FLOW BETWEEN EACH OFSAID CHANNEL MEANS AND SAID CHAMBER, AND STOP MEANS MOUNTED ON SAIDCASING AND PROJECTING INTO THE INTERIOR THEREOF FOR STOPPING MOVEMENT OFSAID VALVE MEMBER IN RESPONSE TO THE URGING OF SAID BIASING MEANS WHENSAID CIRCULATING MEANS HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM SAID CHAMBER, SAID VALVEMEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF PASSAGES LEADING TO SAID CIRCULATING MEANS, SAIDPASSAGES EACH BEING IN ALIGNMENT WITH ONE OF SAID CHANNEL MEANS FORALLOWING FLUID FLOW BETWEEN SAID INLET CHANNEL MEANS AND SAID OUTLETCHANNEL MEANS WHEN SAID CIRCULATING MEANS IS IN THE FIRST POSITION, ANDBEING MOVED OUT OF ALIGNMENT UPON SAID CIRCULATING MEANS BEING REMOVED.